For the second consecutive year, Kevin Kiermaier won the Rawlings Gold Glove in centerfield, beating out fellow finalists Kevin Pillar and Jackie Bradley, Jr.
Even though Kiermaier missed 48 games after breaking his hand on May 21, he became the top centerfielder in the American League in the eyes of the AL managers and coaches (75% of the vote), also leading centerfielders in WAR for a second consecutive year at 3.0, defensive runs saved (DRS) with +25, and collecting a 12.3 UZR spread over 872-1/3 innings (the other 25% was based on defensive metrics). His 175 putouts were second only to Seattle’s Leonys Martin, who made 192 in 142 games. After returning from the disabled list, Kiermaier tied Houston’s Jake Marisnick for the most outfield assists among AL centerfielders with seven.*
When I saw that I was the happiest man on this planet, Kiermaier told Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times). The amount of time that I missed was the only thing holding me back. Other than that I felt by far I’m the best defensive centerfielder in baseball. It’s my award to win. That’s the way I feel. If it’s truly a defensive award, right now, barring something crazy happening I don’t feel anyone else should get this above me.
Per a team press release, Kiermaier is the first AL center fielder since the awards were first presented in 1957 to claim the Gold Glove in each of his first two full seasons in the majors. The only other AL outfielder to do that was Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki in 2001-02.
Fan voting for the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award — given to the best defensive player in each league — is now underway and ends Wednesday at 9 p.m. You can show your support for The Outlaw by voting at Rawlings.com.
*Statistics courtesy of Marc Topkin.